[dafuge's FM22 challenge]

Season 2: 23/24
Finished: 1st
Rotation is key

Summary

League

We started the season off really well, winning 5 of our first 6 games, losing only one. After that, our form became somewhat more inconsistent, but never terrible. We did better in the cups too this time around, reaching the 1st round of the FA cup and fourth round of the FA Trophy, just about outperforming expectations.

This did cause the dreaded January congestion, but this time I was prepared. Unlike last season, I had the numbers! I am even more convinced now that being able to field fresh players is key. We hit a little bit of a slump in that month, but still won 5 out of 8 games in the league! And what stood out to me was this: in most games I was playing at this stage in the season, my players were consistently fresher and lasted longer during the 90 minutes then my opposition. As a consequence, we scored in the 89th+ minute in 3 different games during this month.

After that our form improved, only dropping points here and there. Where we were hovering around 6th-7th position at the start of the year, we now were climbing fast, and by the end of the season we were challenging Hereford, who had been topping the league almost all season, sometimes with quite a margin as well!

We had a slightly easier program with 4 games to go, and two points bonus to boot. I feared my team were going to struggle with the pressure, and they did, but the lads at Hereford managed the same problem worse than we did. We ended up winning the league in convincing manner by 5 points to end with a clean 100 points in our 150th year in football! What a way to celebrate that occasion! And I won the manager of the year award!

Cups

Not much to report here. In the FA cup, we beat who we were expected to beat, and lost to who was expected to beat us, going out to league one club Doncaster in the 1st round. Same story in the FA trophy, although I was a bit disappointed here. York, who only play one league up from us, and struggling bad at that, felt like a challenge we could rise up to. Alas, they thoroughly trounced us and actually gave us the biggest and most convincing beating we received all season. York City stayed up, so we’ll be looking for revenge for sure.

Highlighted players

Ciaran Gilligan - Rowan McDonald left the club after only playing one game in the season. And what a way to go out on. I was basically forced to let him go. I honestly thought his leaving the club doomed our season, such was his impact on the squad. But barely a few days after McDonald had left, Ciaran agreed to a contract. He saved our season, immediately filling the gap left by our former star player. He broke the assist records for our club, and easily was a big reason why we got promoted. Wants to leave for a bigger club now, but this time, I’m not having it. He’s indispensable as far as I’m concerned.

DJ Campton-Sturridge - Yes! Related to that Sturridge! A bit inconsistent, but still young. Started to bang them in for fun towards the end of the season. Not sure how good he is or is going to be. I see him miss some spectacularly easy looking chances during games quite frequently… 

 

Some funny things

Wants to join a bigger club … joins Grantham?  From Hull City league one to vanarama north hmm.

Board expectations … We’re expecting to fight against relegation … playing like 2010’s Barcelona?

Thank god ... lord knows how much this would've cost!

[dafuge's FM22 challenge]

On 16/11/2021 at 06:12, Dan_987 said:

I've found clubs like FC United, South Shields etc. wouldn't say too easy.. I still struggle, but definitely easier in the first few seasons than a team only getting a few hundred to home games.

When managing teams only getting say 100-300, found myself intensely watching Cup draws and hoping to break even. Where with my FC United save would have a few $M in the bank and be in position to upgrade facilities and fill my staffing level quota's.

I'm in this situation in my save. Averaging at around 340 and hemorrhaging money despite having had the 3rd lowest wage spending. At this point I'm surprised we can keep the lights on tbh! It *seems* like this year compared to last year's FM, it's a bit easier to get some money from away friendlies against bigger clubs in pre-season, but I'll have to pay some more attention to that in my preparation for the next season. 

[dafuge's FM22 challenge]

Season 1: 22/23
Media prediction: 23rd  Finished: 9th

The Season    League Table

The first 4 months of the season was all or nothing when it comes to results, only drawing once along the way. Every win was followed by a loss or two, reaching a low early on in September where we went on to a 4 match losing streak. By late November, our form was starting to pick up, ending the year with a hattrick of victories. We carried straight on into the new year, bagging a respectable 8 out of 12 points to be collected. However, we were hit with a couple (I seem to remember 3) of postponements in mid-late January, causing the next 3 months to be quite congested. Our form started to falter, and indeed got quite abysmal. Between mid February and mid April, we only managed to record 1(!) very narrow win. Where we had found ourselves only points away from a playoff place in the beginning of the year, we had now dropped down to 10th place, quite a few more points away from any place allowing us to battle for promotion. Our schedule returning to a more humane rhythm of matches, we managed to recapture our form of before, managed to convincingly win our last three games of the season to finish 9th. We did not play a role at all in either cup competition we entered, being knocked out in both in the first round we entered.

Analysis

I can't help but feel a bit disappointed after this season. If we didn't have that huge slump from February to April, we would've made the play offs, I am sure of it. However, I can't blame the calendar, these things happen, and the cause is clear: my squad size was just too small. I need at least a handful of decent players more so I can rotate. My players were dragging themselves through the games, but I just had nobody to rotate with for many positions. Fatigue cost us big time, and I'm just thankful we didn't get hit by any big injuries because of it. All things considered though, I have to be satisfied by our performance compared to expectations at the start of the season.

Players

Rowan McDonald - I managed to snap this guy up on a free while we had already played our first two games of the season. Manchester City youth product, no idea how I got him to join us. Rated as a good player for Vanarama National and potential to be a good League Two player! It took him a month or two to adapt, but after that, there was no holding him back. Absolutely dominated with his passing, providing twice as many assists as the next best, and contributed with a further 6 goals. He lead the league in passes attempted, on 90% accuracy too boot, and was 3rd in the league in key passes with 175 delivered. By January, I realized I had to do everything in my power to keep this guy, as he only had a one year contract. I stretched way beyond what I should've, with tons of promises and bonusses, but managed to tie him up until 2025. However, he now wants to leave as I've broken some promises. I'll cooperate with a transfer to avoid complete destruction of my club atmosphere , but only if a damn good one comes in. I really hope nobody comes in with an offer, he ends up backing down and staying.

Dave Stephens - Rock at the back. Joined the club on a non-contract and recorded the highest average rating of any player at Grantham. 31 years old, almost slow enough to be nicknamed "The Immovable Object", but smart enough to compensate for his lack of speed to know exactly where to position himself. His agent is pushing for a part time contract, but given his age I am reluctant to offer one. The player seems to be happy with the current arrangement though!

Next Season

The club wants me to fight bravely against relegation again, but I've set my ambition higher. If I can manage to bring in enough decent players to be able to fully rotate my squad, and get some extra quality in on the fullbacks, I reckon we should be able to challenge for a play off spot.  Surprisingly, after I went a little (1k£ a week) over budget trying to keep important players tied to the club and our finances being not at all healthy, the board decided to give me quite a nice increase in wage budget, so I feel like there's definitely more possible. I'd also really like to get a round further in the cups. 

[dafuge's FM22 challenge]

 

After all these years of following along, I've decided to give this an official shot. I only every accomplished this feat once, many many years ago.

Introducing the new manager of Grantham Town Football Club